Apparatus for distributing particulate material into a multi-inlet receiver



Nov. 14, 1967 -R. M CANDLESS 3,352,605

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PARTICULATE MATERIAL INTO A MULTI-INLET RECEIVER Filed June 6, 1966 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ooooooooooooooo I Nov. 14, 1967 R MCCANDLESS 3,352,605

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PARTICULATE MATERIAL INTO A MULTI-INLET RECEIVER Filed June 6, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 14, 1967 R. M CANDLESS 3,352,605

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PARTICULATE MATERIAL INTO A MULTI-INLET RECEIVER 4 SheetS Sheet 5 Filed June 6, 1966 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PARTICULATE MATERIAL INTO A MULTI-INLET RECEIVER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 6, 1966 DOE United States Patent ()fiice 3,352,695 Patented Nov. 14, 1967 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for distributing particulate material, particularly to kilns, including a feeder which delivers the material in predetermined increments to a distributing unit by air entrainment. The distributing unit includes an impeller which discharges the material along several pipes each of which loads to an inlet of a kiln.

This invention relates to apparatus for kiln firing and has particular, but not exclusive, application to brick-making kilns fired by pulverized solid fuel.

Kiln firing apparatus is known which enables coal to be fed incrementally to the inlets of a brick making kiln but with such apparatus each kiln inlet is provided with a feed unit. An object of the invention is to provide apparatus which requires fewer feed units.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which will enable a kiln to be fired with greater economy and efliciency than hitherto.

According to the invention apparatus for kiln firing comprises means for automatically and repeatedly feeding pre-determined small increments of particulate material to a plurality of lines each leading to an inlet of a multi-inlet kiln.

The incremental feed means may comprise a pipe having a flow control means at two locations spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the pipe, and actuating means for repeatedly and successively operating each flow control means so that when one control means is open the other is closed.

The pipe is preferably resilient and flexible and the flow control means may each comprise a resilient cushion located at one side of the pipe and a reciprocable plate located on the opposite side of the pipe so that the plate can compress the pipe walls against the cushion in the closed position of the flow control means.

The apparatus conveniently comprises a distributor wherein the material is fed axially into a number of peripheral outlets for connection to the inlets of the kiln and a compressed air source for introducing air under pressure into the drum. The distributor may be located on wheels for easy maneuverability.

Indicating means may be provided to inform the operator if the interior of the kiln is at an even temperature throughout. The indicating means may comprise thermocouples located within the kiln, and are connected to a temperature indicator recorder controller located in a control panel.

A high pressure fan may be provided to blow air into a plenum chamber and thereafter to the outlet of the feed means to act as a carrier for the material to the distributor and thereafter for introduction of the material into the kiln.

Further features of the invention appear in embodiments of the present invention described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment according to the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view in part section of a part of a feed means according to the present inventron,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view of AA of FIG- URE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational of the feed means,

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view in part section of a distributor according to the present invention, and

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic View of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGURES l to 5 of the drawings, in the first embodiment apparatus for kiln firing includes a storage bin 10, feeder 11, feed control means 12, distributor 13, and a series of kilns 14. The series of kilns 14 is preferably arranged in two lines side by side such that each kiln is interconnected longitudinally with the kiln in front and behind and the kilns at the end being transversely interconnected so as to form a complete circuit.

The feed control means 12 (FIGURE 2) includes a flexible rubber tube 15 vertically located and secured openly at both ends, a prime mover for example, an electric motor (not shown), a pawl and ratchet assembly (FIG- URE 4) to control the amount of pulverized coal that is to be permitted to pass through the feed means and enter the kilns 14, two rubber cushions 26 located one above the otherat one side of the tube 15, and two actuable plates 27 which are connected to the pawl and ratchet assembly (FIGURE 4), are located on the other side of the tube 15 and are positioned directly opposite each cushion 26.

The pawl and ratchet assembly (FIGURE 4) includes a link 16, two tie rods 17, 17A and a bell-crank lever 18, said lever 18 being rotatably mounted on the axis 21 of the ratchet 19, and a link 20 is provided rotatably mounted on a sleeve (not shown), on the ratchet axis 21. The tie rods 17, 17A are connected from the link 16 to the bellcrank lever 18 and the link 20, tie rod 17 to the upwarddirected arm of the bell-crank lever 18, and tie rod 17A to the link 20. Both the upward-directed arm of the lever 18 and the link 20 are provided with a series of apertures suitable for position-adjustment of the tie rods 17, 17A. A pawl 22 is pivotally mounted on the link 20, the rear end of said pawl being connected by a tension spring 22A to the end, remote from the ratchet axis, of the link 20. A pawl 23 is pivotally mounted on the upward-directed arm of the lever 18, the rear end of which is connected by a tension spring 23A to the end, remote from the ratchet axis of the upward-directed link of the lever 18. A rod 24 is connected to the unattached end of the horizontal-directed arm of the bell-crank lever 18 and to one end of a T-shaped link 25 (FIGURE 2). Both arms 25A are of U-shaped formation, such that each arm 25A engages a support rod 28 for each of the plates 27.

One end of each support rod 28 is connected to one of the plates 27 and the other end is connected to the framework 29 of the feed control means 12 by means of a light tension spring 30. A screw 31 is located in the springend of the support rod 28 for the links of the U-shaped arm 25A to engage with when the feed control means 12 is in operation.

The plates 27 are spring-loaded to a closed position against the flexible rubber tube 15 and the cushions 26. Two heavy tension springs 32 (FIGURE 3) are provided connecting each of the plates 27 to a U-shaped frame 33, each frame 33 'being located on the side of the valve 12 remote from the plates 27. The frame 33 being of U- formation has its arms 33A facing away from the feed control means 12. Each arm 33A is provided with a series of apertures 34. A rod 35 is provided to engage a set of corresponding apertures in the arms 33A.

A spring 32 is positioned between each end of each arm 27 and each end of each rod 35; By means of the view of the other part rod 35 engaging different sets of corresponding apertures 34, the springs 32 may be adjusted.

The distributor 13 (see particularly FIGURE 5), is connected by a feed pipe 36 from the feed means 12, and includes an inlet 37, a drum 38, a fan 39, driven by a prime mover, in this embodiment a 3-horse-power electric motor 40, and eighteen outlets 41, radially projecting from, and spaced apart from each other, around the drum 38. The distributor is located on the framework 48 of a wheelbarrow for easy maneuverability.

The kilns 14 are arranged in a complete circuit, and each kiln 14 has five inlets 42, and each wall of adjoining kilns 14 are provided with five communicating apertures.

Metal pipes (not shown), nections, are provided to connect the outlets 41 distributor 13 to the inlets 42 of the kiln 14.

Indicating means (not shown) is provided to inform an operator if the interior of the kiln is at an even temperature throughout. The indicating means comprises three thermocouples located within the kiln. One of the thermocouples is positioned at one side of the kiln interior, another at the other side, and a third in the middle. All the thermocouples are connected to a temperature indicator recorder controller located in a control panel (not shown).

A high pressure fan 43 is provided to blow air into a having rubber tubing conof the plenum chamber 44 and thereafter to the outlet of the feed means 12 to act as a carrier for the pulverized coal to the distributor 13 and thereafter for introduction of the coal into the kiln.

In a second embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 6 a bin 45 for storing discharged raw coal is provided. This bin 45 is in communication with a combined device 46, for the removal of moisture from the raw coal and for pulverizing said coal, and communicating thereafter with a cyclone 47 for removal of the air. The outlet of the cyclone is connected to the inlet of the storage bin 10. The remainder of the apparatus is identical with the apparatus as described in the first embodiment.

In use, according to the first embodiment, pulverized coal is dumped into a storage bin 10. The coal then passes into the feeder. The electric motor of the pawl and ratchet assembly (FIG. 4) is energized, and the link 16 transfers the motion to the adjustable tie rods 17, 17A which rotates by pawls 22 and 23 the ratchet 19 about its axis 21 which action by adjusting the length of the rods is capable of giving a variable feed of between and 300 lbs. of pulverized coal per hour. The'bell-crank lever 18, when supplying the necessary motion to activate the feeder, also activates the rod 24 thus the T-shaped link 25 and thereby the feed means 12 is actuated to allow the pulverized coal to be introduced into the air stream from the high pressure fan 43 via the plenum chamber 44 to the distributor 13 and thereafter to the kiln for ignition and combustion.

The feed means when not in operation is always closed, the plates 27 being spring-loaded against the tube and cushions 26. The action of thebell-crank lever 18, causes the rod 24 to move up and down and thereby causes the T-shaped link 25 to be activated. When the rod 24 is in its lower position only the top working unit of plate 27 and cushion 26 is opened, since one arm 25A engages the screw 31 and carries it back against the. action of the tension springs 30, 32. In this position pulverized coal falls into the tube 15 which acts as a bag since the bottom working unit is still closed.

When the rod 24 is in its midway position i.e. perpendicular to the tube 15 the top and bottom working units are both closed i.e. the pulverized coal is trapped between the working units. When the rod 24 reaches its uppermost position the bottom. working unit or plate 27 and cushion 26 is open, since the other arm 25A engages the screw 31 and carries it back against theaction of the tension springs 30, 32. In this position the pulverized coal is free to fall into the air stream. The air cannot go back up the tube since the top working unit is closed.

The pulverized coal is then introduced via the inlet 37 into the drum 38 of the distributor 13 and is driven by the fan 39 which is activated by the new energized 3 horse-power electric motor 40 into the outlets 41. The coal then passes via pipes to the kiln inlets 42 and ignites and full combustion takes place of all particles of the pulverized coal, the finer particles at the top and the coarser particles at or near the bottom.

Indicating means namely three thermocouples are connected to a temperature indicator recorder controller, which is in turn electrically connected to the .25 horsepower electric motor of the pawl and ratchet assembly. If the temperature, predetermined at the beginning at or around 1000 C. is exceeded a any of the three thermocouples, the coal feed is automatically stopped and warning is given to an operator that an adjustment is required. In practice, it has been found possible to consistently maintain 1000 C. plus or minus five degrees in the furnace.

of ash or calorific content.

In use, according to the second embodiment, raw coal is dumped into a bin 45 which is in communication with a combined device 46 which dries the raw coal and then pulverizes it. The pulverized coal is then passed into a cyclone 47 during which the air is withdrawn from the mixture and the pulverized coal is deposited in the storage bin 10.

The remainder of the method is carried out as above described in the use according to the first embodiment.

The particle size of the coal varies from an eighth of an inch to airborne dust and is injected into the kiln at a considerable velocity downwards through the kiln roof meeting the secondary air which passes through the kiln and has a flow in the opposite direction to the primary air stream. Combustion of the coal dust starts approximately six inches below the kiln roof while the larger particles burn at progressively lower levels and a small percentage of the largest particles are still burning when they strike the kiln base.

The distributor is located on a wheelbarrow framework such that it may be moved from one kiln to another. Bricks are usually fired in a kiln for hours at a. temperature of 1000 C. After this period the apparatus is moved to the next kiln in line and is cyclically repeated. 7

The method used to pass extra pulverized coal into the kiln, is to use a Y-shaped metal pipe connecting two outlets of the distributor to one inlet of the kiln, i.e. passing twice the amount of pulverized coal into one pipe.

The apparatus is also envisaged as being useful in distributing pulverized material of other descriptions apart from coal for example the apparatus may find use in the delivery of salt to kilns used for making salt glazed pipes, or in the delivery of coloring materials to kilns or in other applications where it is desirable to provide a positive control of the delivery of amounts of powdered material to several outlets from one delivery point.

I claim:

1. An. apparatus for distributing particulate material into a multi-inlet receiver comprising a plurality of feed conduits each communicating with an inlet of said receiver, feed means for automatically and repeatedly feeding said material into each of said conduits in predetermined increments; said feed means comprising a pipe, flow control means at two locations spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the pipe for controlling the flow of material along the pipe, and means for repeatedly and successively actuating said flow control means to close one control means while the other is open.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pipe is resilient and flexible and the flow control means each.

comprise a resilient cushion located at one side of the The pulverized coal used is of any quality irrespective 5 pipe and a reciprocal plate located on the opposite side of the pipe, the reciprocal plate being operated by said actuating means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises two support rods each connected to a plate and cross connected to a bell crank lever pivotal on the ratchet of a pawl and ratchet assembly.

4. An apparatus for distributing particulate material into a multi-inlet receiver comprising a plurality of feed conduits each communicating with an inlet of said receiver, feed means for automatically and repeatedly feeding said material in predetermined increments, and a distributor unit for feeding material from the incremental feed means to the feed conduits; the distributor unit comprising a drum into which the material is fed axially, a plurality of peripheral outlets from the drum communicating through the feed conduits with the receiver inlets, and an impeller in the drum for causing discharge of the material from the drum along the feed conduits.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the distributor unit is constructed as a separate wheeled unit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,754,124 4/1930 Skentelbery et a1. 302-28 2,206,876 7/1940 Chater 1l0104 X 2,434,435 1/ 1948 Reibel 302-28 2,470,744 5/1949 Korn 30255 2,956,840 10/1960 Mead 302-55 3,071,230 1/ 1963 Brakel et a1 302-28 X 3,204,942 9/ 1965 Matthys et a1 302-28 X 3,260,285 '7/ 1966 Vogt 302--55 X FOREIGN PATENTS 629,049 2/1963 Belgium. 995,051 6-/1965 Great Britain.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner. M. L. AJEMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING PARTICULATE MATERIAL INTO A MULTI-INLET RECEIVER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF FEED CONDUITS EACH COMMUNICATING WITH AN INLET OF SAID RECEIVER, FEED MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND REPEATEDLY FEEDING SAID MATERIAL INTO EACH OF SAID CONDUITS IN PREDETERMINED INCREMENTS; SAID FEED MEANS COMPRISING A PIPE, FLOW CONTROL MEANS AT TWO LOCATIONS SPACED APART IN THE LENGTHWISE DIRECTION OF THE PIPE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF MATERIAL ALONG THE PIPE, AND MEANS FOR REPEATEDLY AND SUCCESSIVELY ACTUATING SAID FLOW CONTROL MEANS TO CLOSE ONE CONTROL MEANS WHILE THE OTHER IS OPEN. 